Refrigerated transportation unit



July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMORE 2,603,070

REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Filed Aug. 18, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

/ 0/P/P57' 6/4 HOPE ATTO/PA/[YS J y 1952 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATEDTRANSPORTATION UNIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENTOR5/6955? 4. 6/4 MO/Pf E N R o i am July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMOREREFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1945INVENTOR fa/ppzsr 4. 6/4/1052- BY flw v- ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. E.GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT July 15, 1952 Filed Aug. 18,1945 19 TTUP/VEYS Ticlfj.

July 15, 1952 F. E. GILMORE REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT '7Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 I", III

- INVENTOR. fb/PPtIST zf. 6/4 NO/Pf ATTOP/V/VS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledAug. 18, 194

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REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Filed Aug. 18, 1945 I r '7 Sheets-Sheet'7 l3 INVENTOR. 01:1. /:&/P/P57, 6/4/7094 WTLW Patented July 15, 19522,603,070 REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION UNIT Forrest E. Gilmore,Bartlesville, Okla., assignor,

by mesne assignments; to Frigid Transport Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 18, 1945, Serial No.611,365

6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerated transportation units.

The inventionis shown herein as applied to an automotive truck, but itis apparent that the same principles may be applied to other forms oftransportation units and certain items are useful in refrigeratedsystems generally.

In the transportation unit of the present invention, the cooling elementis a portionof an absorption refrigeration system contained in aninsulated body and the unit has mounted thereon one or more absorbentholders for collecting the vaporized refrigerant. The remaining elementsof an absorption system, namely, the generator, the dehydrator, thecondenser and the storage tanks for the liquid refrigerant and the weakand strong liquors are located at a central station at which the unitsare serviced.

Each central station serves a large number of transportation units. Aseach transportation unit enters a central station, the absorbers areemptied of their charge of strong liquor, the evaporator is rechargedwith refrigerant and the absorbers are recharged with weak liquor orabsorbent whereupon the transportation unit is ready to resume itstravel with full refrigeration capacity. The transportation unit may bedesigned for twenty-four-hour or longer service without recharging atthe will of the designer.

The present application is directed to numerous features making for theeconomical construction-"- and operation of the transportation unit, theefficient operation of the refrigeration system and the efiicient andeasy emptying and recharging of the transportation unit.v

transportation unit wherein there are two cooling compartments which areaccessible independently of the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement whereby theoperation of the cooling unit is controllable by the operator from theoutside of the insulating body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a transportationunit of the above-identified character, arrangements whereby the re-" animproved arrangement for insuring complete saturation of the spentabsorbent by the refrigerant.

A still further object of the invention is a novel arrangement ofabsorbers and connections there- .--3 One obJect of the invention is toprovide a- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 Fig, 4 is adiagrammatic view of the cooling apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section through one absorbent holder;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 through another absorbent holder;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section. through the refrigerantholder;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the connection for use in filling or emptyingthe absorbent holder;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the connection for use in charging therefrigerant holder;

j Fig. 11 is a section on the line l|ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a partially diagrammatic view of a modification, and

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3l3 of'Fig. 12. In the embodimentherein shown, a suitably insulated body or enclosure [0 is supported bythe chassis of an automobile truck having an operators cab mountedforward of the body. A generally cylindrical tank ll is supportedhorizontally near the top of the enclosure lli transversely thereof. Apipe I2' communicates at one end with a cylindrical housing I3vertically supported within the tank ll near the top thereof andcontains a valve seat It for co-operation with a ball valve 15 tocontrol flow into the tank If (Fig/7). I The remaining end of the pipel2 communicates with a coupling member l6 carried by the bodylfl (Figs.1 and 10).

Two pairs of headers I7 and IS depend from the tank I I in communicationtherewith and each pair of headers supports a plurality of transverselyarranged horizontal pipes l9 having finned cooling surfaces 20. Eachheader ll 'extends nearly to the top of the tank ll whereas each headerl3 terminates flush with the inner surface of said tank. The tank l ltogether with the headers and cfinned pipes constitute'the evaporator ofan absorption refrigerating system (Figs. 1, 3 and 4).

Ave'rtical plate 2| of the same width as the body l0 locatedbetween'the:twosets' ofpipes I9 and may extend to the floor of the body to dividethe body into two compartments for which suitable doors may be provided.In the plate 2| is provided an opening 22 which receives a horizontaltray 23 arranged below the pipes 19 for the purpose of collectingdripping from said pipes. A drainage pipe 24 leads from the tray 23 to apoint below the bottom of the body.

Two generally cylindrical tanks 25 and 26 having valve-controlled vents25a. and 26a are ho'rizontally supported beneath the body longitudinallythereof in position to be contacted by the stream of air flowing beneaththe body upon forward movement of the vehicle and constitutes theabsorbent holder for the refrigerating system. A pipe 21 leads to thetank 25 from a coupling member 28 supported by the vehicle andterminates near the bottom of the tank 25. A pipe 29 leads from the topof the tank I l to one end of a tubular casing 30 in the bottom of thetank 25 and having at its other end a conical discharge nozzle 30a.enclosed by a boss 30b'havin'g a lateral port 300 beyon'd'the nozzle endcommunicating with one end of an upwardly inclined pipe 3| within thetank 25. In the pipe '29 there is provided a manually adjustable backpressure regulating 'valve'32 and a manually operated valve"32aupstr'eam of the valve 32 while a pipe 33 leadsfrom the pipe 29 at apoint between the valve 32a and the tank H to a pressure gage 34arrangedon the outside of the front wall of the body IOi'n'a positidn'tobe readily visible to the truck operator. A pipe 35 leads from a pointnear the top of the tank 25 into the bottom of the tahk-26 andcommunicates with a tubular casing36 intermediate its ends. The casing36 has a conical discharge nozzle 36a enclosed by a boss 36b having-aport 36c'beyond the nozzle end and communicating with one end of 'anupwardly inclined pipe "31 within the tank 26. At'the other end ofthecasi'ng '36 there is provideda downwardly extending tube 38t'erminating near'the 'bottom of the tank26 and 'containinga ball checkvalve -35arrangedto permit "inflow only. A pipe "40 controlled by amanually operated valve 4| leads to the tank 26 from'the pipe 29' at apoint between the valve-32 and the tank ll.

'The'tank II is supported from the ceiling-by a ffra r'ne 42 which alsosupports a pair of plates 43 and '44 of substantially the samewidth-as'the body In exterior of the 'eoils l5. The space above andbelow the coils l "between'thep'artition 2| "and the plates 43 and44is'open so as 'to provide a chimney efiect with respect to each coilfor'circulatingthe air in eachcompartm'ent over acon.

A float 45 is carried by a 'forked arm 46 which 'is'in'ounted on a crosspin 41 free'to'rotate in rgi steringhol'es in the casin '13. ACQ'm'IB'iS a'd'justablyfastened on the pin 41 by means'of a 'set'scre'w49 and underlies'thevalve seatl4in 'p'ositionto' project throughs'aidseat sufficiently to engage the ball valve I5'to lift'it fromits'seat.Thecam48 is provided 'witha'depression 50 to "receive the ball I5 in oneposition of the cam 'topermit the ball to' fit the seat'l4 to preventinflow through the casing I3. :A'n adjustable counterweight 5] ismounted on the "arm'ws' opposite the 'fioat 45. The cam 48 is adjustedon the pin 41 so that the recess50is 'in po'sitionto receive the ballwhen'the liquid in the tank ll hasrea'ched the desired level andprevent'further inflow.

To prepare the system for operation; anhydrous 'ammonia'isintroduced'intothe tank I l by means --'subsequently to be describedthrough the coupling member 16, pipe 12 and housing l3 until apredetermined depth of liquid refrigerant has been obtained in the tankwhereupon the valve 15 seats to prevent further flow to the tank. Weakliquor is introduced into the absorbers 25 and 26 by means subsequentlyto be described through the coupling member 28, pipe 21 and pipe 35. Thetank 25 first fills up to the level of the top of the pipe 35, afterwhich the weak liquor flows through the pipe 35 into the tank 26 throughcasing 36. Flow is continued until the desired level of liquid isattained in the tank 26. When both tanks 25 and 26 are filled, liquid iscontained within the pipes 3| and 31 to the full extent thereof.

During operation, anhydrous ammonia flows from the tank I I through theheaders l8 into the pipes I5 in which it is vaporized, thereby taking upheat from the enclosure to lower its temperature. The vaporizedrefrigerant flows through the headers I1 to the tank [I from which it isdischarged through the pipe 29 and valves 32a and 32 into the casing 30from which it flows through the pipe 3| in which it is thoroughlycontacted with the liquid therein to promote absorption'of the vaporizedrefrigerant by the weak liquor in the tank. When'the liquid in the tank25 has lost itsabsorptive capacity, additional vaporized refrigerantintroduced into the tank 25 passes from the tank through the pipe 35into the tank 26 byway of the casing36 and pipe-31. The vaporizedrefrigerant thus introduced into the tank 26 is thoroughly contactedwith the liquid in thetank to promote-absorption of the ammonia vapor bythe weak liquor contained in the tank.

After a period of operation, both tanks 25 and 26 are drained and freshweak liquor is introduced. In draining, the coupling member 28 isconnected to a'suitable suction source and liquid is drained through thepipe 21 from'the-tank 25. As liquid is withdrawn from the tank 25, itisreplenished by liquid flowing from the chamber 26 under the influence ofthe greater pressure existing in the-tank 2'6. Liquid flows from thetank 26 by wayof theinlet-38 into the'casing from whence it-flowsthrough the-pipe35 into the tank '25 which remains full-until thetank'26 is empty.

The discharge of liquid from the tanks may be facilitated byopeningthevalve 4|, thereby supplying to the liquid in the tank'28 thepressure existingi'n' the tank I I.

As shown in Figs, 8 and9, the coupling 28 comprises a housing '52communicating with the pipe 21 and provided'at one end with avalveseat53 which is adapted'to receive a ball-valve 54 contained in the housing.-A helical'spring 55 carries a spider 56 for engagement-with the-ball54to bias "the. ballinto engagement with the seat-53. A second couplingmember 51 comprises a tubular housing having a port 58. Quick detachablemeans 59 of any suitable construction and having an actuating hand wheelto are provided 'for clamping the two coupling members 28 and 21together with their opposing faces in liquid-tight contact. A ste'm'6l;is'rotatably' supported within the coupling 51 with a portion extendingexteriorly of the casing a'nd'to'which a-hand wheel 62 is attached. Athre'aded'portion of the stem 6| engages a feed nut63 mounted within thecasing so that rotation of the stem produces axia1'm'ovement-thereof.The 'stemjfil has a he'a'd"'64 for engagement with the ball54. Afiexibleli'ose 55 is connected to thhe'port58 and leads tea-source ofweak liquor. With the coupling 51 disengaged from the"couplingmember'28, the ball5'4 automaticallyseatsto close 'thepassageway through ismounted in the housing for movement toward and away from the valve seatII and has a threaded bore into which extends the threaded portion of astem 13 having one end exterior of the housing andequipped with a handwheel '14.

ment of the stem 13. A second coupling member for co-operation with thecoupling member I6 consists of a housing I6 having a frusto-conicalvalve seat 'II at one end. Astem I8 is rotatably supported within thehousing I6 by a feed nut I9 having engagement with a threaded portion ofthe stem I8 whereby axial movement of the stem is effected upon rotationthereof. At one end, the stem is equipped with a frusto-conical valve 80adapted to engage the seat TI and at its opposite end is provided with ahand wheel 8| exterior of the casing. Quick detachablemeans 82 of anysuitable construction and having an actuating hand wheel 83 are providedfor connecting together the two coupling members with their opposingends in contact and with the outer faces of the valve 12 and 80 incontact. The casing I is connected to the pipe I2 whilethe casing 15 isconnected to a flexible hose 84 connected to a source of liquidanhydrous ammonia. Normally, the valve 72 engages the valve seat 'II toprevent escape of refrigerant from the tank When it is desired to chargethe tank II with anhydrous ammonia; the casing I6 isconnected to thecasing I0 as shown in Figs. 10 and ll-with the valves I2 and 80 engagingthe valve seats II and I1 respectively. The hand wheels 14 and BI arethen rotated to retract the valves from their valve seats to permit theflow of anhydrous ammonia from the hose 84 through the casings 16 and I0into the pipe I2. After the tank II has been charged, the hand wheels 14and 8| are rotated to engage the valves with their valve seats, afterwhich the casing I6 is disconnected from the casing I0. The arrangementof valves I2 and 80 with their outer faces in engagement when both areseated, prevents any loss of anhydrousammonia during charging.

When it is desired to charge the tanks 25 and 26 with weak liquor, thecoupling member 57 is attached to the coupling 28 as shown in Figs. 8and 9 with the head 64 in its retracted position. The hand wheel 62 isthen operated to disengage the ball 54 from its seat 53 against theaction of the spring 55, thereby permitting influx of'weak liquid fromthe hose 65 through the port 58 around the head 64 and ball 54 into thehousing 52 and thence through the pipe 21. After the tanks 25 and 26have been charged with weak liquor to the desired depth, the hand wheel62 is rotated to retract the head 84 and permit the ball 54 again toengage its seat 53. Upon disengagement of the coupling member from thecoupling member 28, the only loss of weak liquor is that contained inthe small space between the exposed surface of the ball 54 and theadjacent end of the coupling member 51.

Instead of a float-controlled valve in the tank II, flow of anhydrousammonia thereto may be regulated by the arrangement illustrated in Figs.12 and 13. In this arrangement, a non-magnetic metal cup 85 is screwedinto a threaded boss 86 provided in the wall of the tank I I. The

A collar 75 on the stem I3 prevents axial move- 6 end of the. cup isclosed by-a secondnon-magnetic metalcup 81 having threaded engagementwith the rimof the cup 85. The, cup85 rotatably supports a shaft 88 towhich is. attached-an arm 89 carrying'a. float 90 atits outer end. .Apermanent bar magnet 9| is carried by the shaft 88within the cup 85 anda pointer 92 of magnetic metal is rotatably supportedby the bottom ofthe cup 81 to which it'is electrically connected.

:The cup 81 supports an insulatedstationary contact 93 in position tobeiengaged' by one end;of the pointer 92. A conductor leads from .the

contact 93, to the'positive poleof a battery95. A pipe-96 provided. with"aiself-closing magnetic valve 9'! and with a meter 98 is connected tothe-hose v84'leading to the coupling member 16. One terminal ofthe'magnetic valve 91 is connected through the armature and contact of arelay 99' to the negative pole. of the battery95.

The negative pole of thebattery 9515 also connected through the coil ofa relay,- 99 and; conductor I00. to thetruck chassis, thereby providing.an electrical connection between the-negative pole .;of the battery-.and the pointer v 92 through the pipe I2 and tank II. With the pointer92 out of engagement with the contact 93, the relay 99 is de-energized,causing engagement of the relay armature with its contact to close theenergizing circuit for the valve 9'Ito maintain it open. Rotation of thmagnet 9| produces corresponding rotation of the pointer 92 andengagement of the latter with the contact 93 closes the electricalcircuit through the coil of relay 99 with consequent de-energization ofthevalve 96 to effect closing of the valve.

With the contents of the tank I I at a low level, the pointer 92 isspaced from the contact: 93. Upon introduction of liquid in'the tank II,rotation is effected of the shaft 88 through the medium of the float 90to move the pointer 92toward the contact 93 to eventually produceengagement therebetween upon attainment. of a predetermined liquid levelin the tank. The engagement of the pointer 92 with the contact 93 closesthe circuit as previously described to close the magnetic valve 91 andinterrupt flow, to the tank.

The arrangement above described also serves as a liquid level indicatoras the pointer 92 is visible from the exterior of the tank. By means ofa dial, the amount of liquidinthe tank at any time can be determined byreference to the position of the pointer 92 with respect to the dial.

The temperature maintained withinthe tank may be regulated bymanualadjustment of the back pressure control valve 32. Also, means areprovided for controlling the temperature within the body either inconjunction with or'independently of the valve 32 by use of atemperature-responsive element arranged within the insulated body. Forthis purpose, a by-pass IOI is provided around the valves 32a and 32. Apipe I02 controlled byla manually-operated valve. I03

. leads fromv the pipe 29 to the by -pass IOI from a terminal of themagnetic valve is connected to the negative pole of the battery I06through a thermostat I 01 arranged in the body I0. A manuallwoperatedswitch 1 0811s provided: in the elecitrical fcircuit just described! Thevalve: is closed upon de-energization .andr-opens upon energize tion.'Thetthermostat is'closed :at high temperatures and opens I at lowertemperatureswith :the valves I03 .and I05 closedzand .the waive T100open, vaporfflowsfrom the tank-H to the tank 25 through "th I back:pre'ssure'control valveu which under theseicircumstances' is the soletemperature regulator for the :body. -With the valves 32a and-l031closed1and the valve 105 :open, vaporflows from the tank 'l'lntoiithe tank 25 through the valve 104 and theiltemp'eraturexin the:body is regulated solely by the 1 thermostat 1'01. With-the valves32aiand I05 closed,rand;the 1va'ivefl03 .open, vapor from'theitank IIfiowssuccessively through'the valves mlrand 32ito .the Ltank -HCand'thetemperature in the 'bodyis'under the Joint control oi. the 'twore'gulating'cmeans. when the "by-pass :is closed,'. the switch l 08 maybe opened, thereby avoiding all possibility of ;unnecessary drainage-10fthe; battery I06 shouldwthe thermostat (01 *close during a period of.non-

:opera'tlon of the refrigeration :system.

I claim: 1. -A mobile refrigerated :transportation .iunit comprising:amhassis, arrinsulated body;mounted on :said chassis, an absorptionrefrigeration :sys tem evaporator mounted within :the :insulated 1 bodyand consisting of a 2 storage itank'xrnounted :adj'acent "the top :ofsaid :body and two :sets 'of vertically'disposedtcoils connectedthereto, azpartition icxtending :between'said coils. and dividingJtheiinsulated bodylinto separatedcompartments "theaabsorber for thepassage io'frefrigeration vapors, a second :pipe leading to the'storagetank 'fo'r ifilling the'same' iwithl refi i'gerantga' third pipe leadingto the absorber whereby'meisamemay be i filled with or 'emp'tiedntofabsorbent,4detachable means :for Tconnecting said second and "thirdpipes to 1 appropriate storage rtanksxand valves for controlling 'flowthrough isaid -last-named pipes to the first na'm'ed; storage-tank Landthe absorber respectively. 1 1 r 1 1 4. A "mobllerefrigeratedtransporta'tion unit comprisingia chassis, an insulated bodymounted 'thereon, an absorption refrigeration system evaporatorincluding a tank and evaporating coils within said body, a firstabsorber-and second absorber mprinted on said -chassis, a first '8 pipeleading from the top-of said tank'to the bottom of said first absorber,a second pipe leading from the top of said first absorber to the bottomof said second absorber, a third pipecommunicating with the bottom ofsaid first absorber, a back pressure regulating valve in said firstpipe, a fourth pipe leading to the top of said second absorber from saidfirst pipe at-a point between said back pressure regulating valve andsaid tank, and a manually operated valve in said fourth pipe.

5. An absorption refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a firstand a second absorbent tank, a first hollow casing in said ,first tankhaving a discharge nozzle, a first :pipeleading from the evaporator tosaid first casing, a first tube fitting over said first casing nozzle-influid-tight relation thereto and having a port beyond the end of saidnozzle, a second-hollow casingin said second absorber and having a :dis-

charge nozzle, a second pipe leading from an elevated point insaid firsttank to said second casing, a second tube fitting said second casingnozzle in fluid-tight relationand having a port .beyondthe end ofsaid'nozzle, a passageway providing communication between the interiorof said second casing and said second tank, and a check valve in saidpassageway permitting'only flow into said second casing.

6. An absorption refrigeration system according to claim 5 characterizedby aback pressure regulating valve in said first pipe, a third pipeleading to said second tank from said first pipe at a point between saidback pressure regulating valve and said evaporator, and a manuallyactuated valve controlling flow through said'third pipe.

- FORREST E. GILMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 193,375 Lucas ..-July 24, 1877967,992 Starr Aug. 23, 1910 1,072,245 Makowsky Sept. 2, 1913 1,199,380Hiller Sept. 26, 1919 1,531,133 lReplogle Mar. 24, 1925 1,703,351Molesworthet a1. Feb. 26, 1929 1,750,763 Molesworth etal. -Mar. 18, 193011,919,861 Bergdoll Aug. 18, 1931 $2,316,791 Irwin Apr. 20, 19432,316,792 Irwin Apr. 20, 1943 2,348,478 .Jones May '9, 1944 2,374,972Biehl May 1, 1945 (2,377,332 Erland Af Kleen June 5, 1945 2,436,945Sutton Mar. 2, 1948 02,446,636 Coons "Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 27,607 Great Britain 'Dec. 13, 1903 of 1903

